Steam-engine indicator



No. 6I8,420. Patented Ian. 3I, I899.

A. P. KINNEY &. E. VAUGHAN. STEAM ENGINE INDICATOR.

(Application filed Mar. 25, 1895.) (No Model.)

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No. 6|8,420. atented Jan. 3|, I899.

P A. P. KINNEY &. E. VAUGHAN.

STEAM ENGINE INDICATOR.

(Application filed Mar. 25, 1898.) (N0 Model.) 7 2 Sheefs-Sheet 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEAM-ENGINE INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,420, dated January31, 1899.

Application filed March 25, 1898. Serial N0. 675,180. (No model.)

To rtZZ 1071,0771, i2; ntmy concern:

Be it known that we, AMOS P. KINNEY and EARL VAUGHAN, citizens of theUnited States of America, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolkand Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Steam-Engine Indicators, of which the following is aspecification.

Our invention relates to steam-engine indicators designed to be used inthe taking of in dicator-diagrams from engines, pumps, and the like.

It has for its object an improved construction and a novel arrangementof the drumcarriage and the drum which permits (when taking diagrams atthe pleasure of the operator) the stopping and starting or the detachingor disconnecting of the drum without interfering with or affecting inany manner or degree the operative movement of the drum-carriage.

An indicator fitted with our invention possesses many valuablequalities, especially when applied to high speed stationary engines, tolocomotives, and to marine engines. In taking indicator-diagrams fromhigh-speed engines it is very diflicult to take off a card and put onanother, using any style of indicator now in use, for the reason thatthe movement of the drum-carriage must be stopped while changing thecards or while the drum is removed and put on again. This stopping andstarting of the drum-carriage of the ordinary indicatorwhenever itbecomes necessary to put on a new card, however accomplished, is usuallyattended by many veXa- ,tious happenings and disagreeable results,

which are wholly obviated in using our invention, as the drum-carriageafter it is once connected with the reducing motion need not bedisconnected until desired. In taking cards from locomotives and marineengines it is usually much more difiicult to connect and disconnect thedrum-carriage with the reducing motion than it is with stationary e11-gines. In taking cards from marine engines it is often very desirableornecessary on ac* count of close quarters to take the drum off theindicator in order to put 011 a new card, and this results in thespoiling of the fit of the drum of the ordinary indicator, and therebycausing it to run out of true-a very objectionable feature, which ourinvention entirely obviates, as the drum fit on the spindle is a longlubricated bearing well adapted for wear.

The drum-carriage and the drum represented in the drawings by Figures 1and 2 are views of the well-known Thompson indicator as now made, withthe exception only of the drum-detaching lever, the handle of which isshown in its position against the pencil-stop.

As our invention relates only to improvements in the construction andarrangement of the drum-carriage and drum, we have not shown in thedrawings the steam-cylinder and pencil mechanism of the indicator.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation or View of the drum-carriage and drum and aportion of the frame of a standard Thompson indicator. Fig. 2 is a planof Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side ele- 4 is a plan of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is aninverted plan of the drum-carriage. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of Fig. 5on line A Fig. '7 is an inverted plan of the drum. Fig. 8 is a sectionalview of Fig. 7 on line C D. Fig. 9 is a central vertical sectional viewof the drum and spindle-sleeve. Fig. 10 is a full cross-sectional viewof the drum on line E F of Fig. 9, looking toward the top of the drum.Fig. 11 is a full cross-sectional view of the drum on line GH of Fig. 9.Fig. 12 is a central vertical sectional view of the drum. Fig. 13 is afull cross-sectional view of the drum on line I J of Fig. 12, lookingtoward the base of the drum; and Fig. 14 represents the spin dle-sleevein elevation.

The following are standard parts, as usually constructed, of thewell-known Thompsonindicator, (see United States Patent N 0. 167,364; ofAugust 31, 1875:) frame 20, provided with the spindle 21 and pencil-stop22, carrier 23, provided with the ordinary adjusting devices, and drumsafety-nut 24.

The drum-carriage 25 is of the usual con struction and arrangement,except that it is provided with the drumdetaching and connecting device,as hereinafter described, and it is provided with the usualdrum-carriage spring-tension adjusting-collar 26 for adjusting theregular drum-carriage spring located inside the drum-carriage in theordinary manner.

vation of Fig. 1 with the drum removed. Fig.

The spring-tension adjusting-collar clamping-nut 27 is of theusualorcommon construction, except that it is provided with the setscrew28, which is used for the purpose of preventing the unscrewing of thenut when it is set up in its clamping position against the collar 20.

The drum 20, so far as its outer exposed surface is concerned, is thesame as the regular standard drum, and it is provided with the ordinaryindicator-card-fastening springclips 30.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the drum-carriage 25, having the usualdrum-carriage stop 31, is provided with the drum-engaging-pin spring 32,one end of which is securely fastened to the under side of thedrum-carriage by means of the spring-fastening screw 33, while the otherend is slightly bent or raised to form the lip 3%. The spring is alsoprovided with the drum-engaging pin 35, which is free to play or movelongitudinally within the engaging-pin hole 44 of the drum and whichextends through the rim of the drumcarriage. One end of the pin isriveted to the spring near the lip end thereof. This pin plays in a hole35 in the rim of the drumcarriage, and its upper end projects slightlyabove the upper surface of said rim, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6.

The drum-detaching lever 30 is provided with the thin light ring 37,designed to fit into i a recess (not shown) in the indicator-frame whichis made to receive the drum-carriage,

'all in the ordinary and common manner, and

in this recess the ring is free to turn. The radial lever 36, which is apart of or is fastened to the ring, consists of the handle 38 and thewedge-shaped portion 39, which, when pushed by the handle under the lip3i of the drum-engaging-pin spring (or by so holding.

the handle 36 that the drum-carriage in its movement will cause thedepressing of the drum-engaging-pin spring) will, by depressing thespring or forcing it away from the under side of the drum-carriage,withdraw the drum-engaging pin from the hole 44: in the drum, therebyinsuring the ready disengagement of the drum from the drum-carriage.

The drum 29 at its lower end or bottom is provided with the grooved ringi0, having the circular groove 41. This circular groove is provided withthe two inclines i9 and i3 and the hole ii, adapted to cause theengagement of the drum with the drum-carriage when and only when thedrum-engaging-pin hole it is brought opposite the drum-engaging pin 35of the drum-carriage.

The drum 29 at its central and upper portion is provided with thecombined spindlesleeve and spiral-spring receiving case 55. That part ofthe case designed to receive the spindle-sleeve i6 is constructed asfollows: The cylindrical bore or bearing 47 is made to receive thespindle-sleeve $6. This hearing is provided with the circular groove TS,in which is placed the drum-stop l9 and from which to its lower endextends the slot 50. The lower enlarged portion of the case is designedto receive the spiral spring 51.

The drum 2!] at its top is provided with the cover 52.

The grooved ring TO, the case -l-5, and the the cover 52 are preferablysoldered to drum.

The spindle-sleeve i6 is provided with the following: bearing-surface53, upon which the drum is free to turn, stop 5i, which limits theextent of the rotative movement of the drum upon the spindle-sleeve,spring-catch 55 for holding one end of the spiral spring, while theother end is held by the springcatch 56 of the case l5, and pin or stud57, which fits into the stud-hole 58 in the top of the nut 27. Thisstud-hole 58 in the fixed nut 27 on the stationary spindle 21, as shownin Fig. 4c, is preferably made in the same radial line as the pin-hole35', through which the spring-locking pin 35 projects.

The length of the spindle-sleeve is such that it is firmly held orclamped in its fixed nonrotative position upon the spindle 21 betweennut 27 and the nut 21-, which also serves as a safety-nut in preventingthe lifting of the drum.

The parts comprising the d rum mechanism are assembled as follows: Thespindle-sleeve 46 is placed in its position within the case 15. Inentering the sleeve care must be taken to have the stop 54: enter thegroove 48 through the vertical slot 50. \Vhen the sleeve is in itslongitudinal position, it is designed that the stop 5% will be withinthe groove i8 and that the collar to on the spindle-sleeve will abutagainst the lower end of the bearing 47 of the case :5. The spiralspring is then put in place within the case 45, and its tension is insuch a direction as will tend to keep the drum-stop 54 of thespindle-sleeve 4:6 always in contact when the drum is disconnected fromthe drum-carriage with spindle-sleeve drum'stop 49. hen these drum-stops5t and T9 are in contact, as shown in Figs. 9 and 13, it is designedthat the stud 57, which projects from the spindle-sleeve and enters thepin-hole 58 on the fixed nut of the stationary spindle and the pin-holeat of the drum, shall not be in the same radial line, as shown in Fig.9; but hole it shall be a little to the right of a radial line drawnthrough stud 57 when looking down upon the top of the drum. In thisconstruction and arrangement it follows that when the drum is placedupon the drum-carriage the holes 35 and 58 are in the same radial line,and the hole it in the drum will be a little to the right of drum-engagin g pin 35,which projects through said hole 35. Therefore itwill be impossible to make the engagement between the drum anddrum-carriage until the pin-hole iiof the drum is brought into the sameradial line as the stud 5'7, and this radial alinemcnt,

ICC

which insures the drum and drum-carriage engagement, can be readilyaccomplished by turning the drum (by hand) a little to the left. Thisengagement can at all times be readily accomplished regardless of themovement of the drum-carriage, and the force necessary to turn the drumis very slight, as the operator will have to overcome only the slighttension of the spiral spring 51.

The detaching or disconnecting of the drum from the drum-carriage is atall times readily accomplished by moving the detaching-lever to theright until the drum-carriage in its movement causes the lip 34: of thedrum-em gaging-pin spring 32 to come in contact with the wedge-shapedportion 39 of the lever, which contact results in the depressing of thespring and its attached drum-engaging pin 35, thereby disconnecting thedrum from the drum-carriage, and the drum at once is forced into itsnon-engagement position by the action of the spring 51, the pins 54 and49 being in contact.

In the ordinary use of an indicator in taking diagrams it is well knownthat the reducing motion is always of such a length that the regulardrum-carriage stops do not come in contact. Therefore the length of anydiagram is considerably less than it is possible to have it, Ittherefore follows that in practice it is only essential that the drumdetaching and connecting devices should be so relatively arranged thatwhen diagrams are being taken the drum when disconnected from thedrum-carriage shall be instantly forced into its non-engagement positionby the action of the spiral spring in the receiving-case of the drum.

Vhen detaching or disconnecting the drum from the drum-carriage, thehandle of the detaching-lever is held very lightly, and the instantdisengagement is accomplished the handle is left free, and the movementof the drum-carriage will push the detaching-lever back until the handlecomes in contact with the pencil-stop, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and i,where it will remain until the operator again wishes to detachthe drumfrom the drum-carriage.

In operation when the drum is disconnected from the drum-carriage itsmovement ceases. It is intended that when taking diagrams from an enginewith our improved indicator the drumcarriage shall be connected by meansof the usual indicator-cord with the reducing motion and that theindicator-cord may not be disconnected or unhitched from the reducingmotion while the engine-indicator tests are being conducted. Thereforethe movement of the drum-carriage during an indicator test will not inany manner be interfered with or aifected. It will be ob- The bearing 53of the spindle-sleeve is a very long one of ample diameter, therebyinsuring the perfect truth of the motion of the drum.

I Our invention can be readily and cheaply applied to any and all of theThompson indicators now in use, and it can also be easily adapted andapplied to any of the standard indicators, such as the Crosby and theTabor, by making such slight changes in the device as may be necessary.

The indicator shown in the drawings is provided with a large drum; butit is so constructed that it will take a small drum, the lower end ofwhich will be preferably the same diameter as the large drum, while theupper part or that portion of the drum on which the card is placed isreduced to the diameter required for the small drum.

lVhat we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In a steam-engine indicator, the combination of a drum-carriage,means forimparting a rotary reciprocatory motion to said carriage inunison with thepiston movement of the engine, a detachable cardcarryingdrum mounted on said carriage, and means for locking and releasing saiddrum during the movement of the carriage without interfering with theoperation thereof.

2. In a steam-engine indicator, the combination of a drum-carriage, aspring thereon provided with a pin, a drum mounted on said carriage andprovided with a socket adapted to receive said pin, and a lever adaptedto engage said spring to withdraw said pin for releasing the drum.

In a steam-engine the combination of a drum-carriage, a card-carryingdrum supported thereon, one of said elements being provided with aspring-locking pin, and the other with a socket for said pin, and with agroove for the traverse thereof, whereby one of said elements maybeadjusted on the other during the movement thereof without interferingwith said movements.

4. In a steam-engine indicator the combination of a drum-carriage, acard-carrying drum supported thereon, one of said elements beingprovided with a spring-locking pin, and the other with a socket forsaidpin, and with a groove for the traverse thereof, said groove havinginclines adjacent to said socket, whereby one of said elements may beadjusted on the other during the movement thereof without interferingwith said movements.

5. In a steam-engine indicator, the combi= nation of a drum-carriage, aspring-locking pin disposed thereon, means for reciprocating saidcarriage, a detachable card-carrying drum mounted on said carriage andprovided with a groove in which said pin is adapted to travel during theremoval and adjustment of the drum, and a socket for said lockingpindisposed in the circuit of said groove.

6. In a steam-engine indicator, the combination of a drum-carriage, adetachable drum mounted thereon, comprising two members, one adapted toturn independently of the other, and two catch devices operatedsuccessively for locking the separate members of the drum to thectrriage.

7. In a steam-engine indicator, the combination of a tram e, a spindlesupported thereon, a drum-carri ige adapted to turn on said spindle, aspindle-sleeve also adapted to turn on said spindle, a drum properhaving a tubular case adapted to turn on said spindle-sleeve, a springfor turning said drum proper on said spindle-sleeve, a stop device forsaid drum proper, and means for locking said spindlesleeve to saidspindle, and means for locking said drum proper to said drum-carriage.

S. In a steamengine indicator, the combination of a frame,a spindlesupported thereon, a drum-carriage adapted to turn on said spindle,means for reciprocating said drum-carriage, an adj ustingnut on saidspindle over said carriage, a lock-nut on said spindle over saidadjusting-nut, means for locking said lock-nut to said spindle, saidlock-nut being provided with a pin-hole, a spindle -sleeve mounted onsaid spindle over said lock-nut and provided with a projection adaptedto enter said hole, a drum proper having a tubular case adapted to fitsaid spindle-sleeve, a spring for turning said drum proper on saidspindle-sleeve, a stop device for said drum p roper, and means forlocking said drum proper to said drumcarriage.

9. In a detachable drum for a steam-engine indicator,the combination ofa spindle-sleeve, a drum proper provided with a tubular casing having acircumferential groove, said casing being enlarged at its lower end, aspring disposed in said casing and connected at one end therewith and atthe other end with said spindle-sleeve, and a stop device for arrestingthe rotation of the drum proper on the spindlesleeve.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

AMOS P. KINNEY. EARL VAUGIIAX.

Witn esses:

E. FRANK WooDBURY, GEORGE L. DOLBEARE.

